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Plymouth RNLI celebrate ALB Navigator pass out

Lifeboats News Release

Congratulations to our volunteer crew member Beth Barratt who has recently passed out as an ALB Navigator.

Beth Barratt - ALB Navigator

RNLI/Darren Blight

Beth Barratt - ALB Navigator
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The navigator role is required on every ALB launch and exercise, it's a pivotal role - and requires extensive training and many hours of study.

For Beth’s navigator qualification, she was required to demonstrate that she had reached the high standards required in SAR (search and rescue) navigation by using complex charts, radar, AIS, GPS, buoyage, passage planning, search patterns and advanced knowledge of local waters.

Beth did not have to wait long to put her training into practice a few days after her successful assessment she was in the navigator seat when the All-Weather Lifeboat was launched to assist a lone sailor 35 nautical miles south of Plymouth.

Beth said: 'The training the RNLI provide us is incredible and I’m grateful for the opportunity to transfer my navigation skills from sailing to search and rescue operations. Thank you to everyone involved in our training - I look forward to many more shouts in the nav seat!'

Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Westall said: 'I am extremely proud of Beth in achieving her navigator pass out, as are all of us at the station. She has worked very hard and put in a lot of practical time in to reach the standards required.'

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Darren Blight, Plymouth RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07984399860 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]; or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected] or the RNLI Duty Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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